Match Preview: South Africa V Wales

If Wales needed any further inspiration for today's daunting Test against South Africa then Mike Ruddock could hardly have wished for a greater icon than Nelson Mandela.

The former South African president will meet both sides before the game in Pretoria, strangely, the first he will have attended since the historic 1995 World Cup final.

And Ruddock, given the apparent enormity of the task ahead, will be hoping that his players learn a thing or two about overcoming adversity from their brief introductions.

Already Wales are not short of motivation following some posturing by new Springbok coach Jake White, buoyed by his side's two-nil series win over Ireland.

White has already dismissed the threat of World Cup sensation Shane Williams despite his hat-trick against Argentina last week.

And he has told Wales to stop getting their excuses in early with talk of tiredness and injuries ahead of the final game of their strenuous summer tour that began with defeat to the Pumas but regained momentum, thanks to Williams, in Buenos Aires.

'I don't think we have ever used those things as an excuse, we've just stated a few facts, such as we are at the end of a very long season and we've brought a very young squad,' said Ruddock.

'But we haven't even spoken in training about being tired or ready to go home and we are going to throw whatever we have got left in the tank at the Springboks.

'Of course we respect them, particularly after beating Ireland twice, they are very formidable opponents, but that respect will go out of the window come the game.

'I'm certainly looking to my players to muscle up and get stuck into them and show we have the potential to be in the same league as them.'

Ruddock, once regarded as a potential Wales flanker, has certainly set about looking to edge a grittier edge to the Wales pack, highlighted by reports of training-ground flare-ups between players during full contact sessions on this tour.

Yet the omens for today's game are not on Ruddock's side.

Already without seven first-team regulars from the Six Nations, he has been forced to make late changes to his pack in the last few days with the withdrawals of Brent Cockbain and Michael Owen.

Yesterday Leeds Tykes No 8 Alix Popham was brought in for his first appearance of the tour as a replacement for Owen who failed a fitness Test on his back.

But it was the departure of Cockbain on Wednesday night, following news of a serious family illness, that has hit the squad both emotionally and in their plans to attack a suspect South African lineout.

Cockbain's absence means veteran lock Gareth Llewellyn will win his 90th cap in a career that stretches back to 1989 and includes Wales' last visit to Pretoria.

Six years ago Wales, under caretaker coach Dennis John, were humiliated 96-13 at the Loftus Stadium when Percy Montgomery scored a record 31 points.

Montgomery will again be a key figure, this time against his former Newport Gwent Dragons coach, having marked his return to Test rugby with a near perfect display against the Irish last week.

'I don't think that game will have any bearing on either side as there as so few of the players left,' said Montgomery.

'We don't know a lot about this Wales side because of all the new faces but

I think they will be a very different challenge to Ireland. Wales like to throw the ball around, which is hard to prepare for, whereas Ireland are a lot more structured.'

That Montgomery, and fellow thirty-somethings Llewellyn and Wales captain Colin Charvis, are still around to re-kindle the memories - or not - of that day is testament to their longevity and sheer professionalism.

Yet it is the harsh realities of professional sport that could leave Wales hooker Mefin Davies bidding farewell to the game at the final whistle.

Despite inheriting the No 2 jersey from the injured Robin McBryde, Davies has been unable to find a new club following the Welsh Rugby Union's decision to close the Celtic Warriors last month.

He said: 'I will have very mixed emotions before, during and especially after the game, but this is the way it is at the moment.'

Wales reached their first semi-final since 2013 in the opening round of this season's HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in Dubai. WRU TV's Graeme Gillespie recaps on what proved to be an eventful tournament

Wales and Ospreys back row James King, who came through the North Wales age grade system, nominated North Wales Regional Community Rugby Manager Marc Roberts, in the WRU's 'Diolch' initiative where squad players thanked those who played a part in their rise to the top.

Beating Merthyr has boosted Carmarthen Quins hopes of reaching a top eight spot in the Principality Premiership. Quins captain Haydn Pugh is delighted with his team's progress and is determined that everyone from the Under 6s through to the senior team, enjoys the ride.

When the Wales squad were asked to nominate individuals who played a big part in their early playing days, Wales and Dragons full back and wing Hallam Amos thought of his former Monmouth School rugby coach John Bevan.

Sam Cross and Luke Treharne have been named as co-captains of the Wales Sevens side as head coach Gareth Williams names his 12-man squad to play in the first leg of the HSBC World Series in Dubai next weekend.

Bedwas head coach Steve Law and players Nicky Griffiths and Alun Rees extol the virtues of the close knit club as they prepare to host third place RGC 1404 - who are one place head of them on the Principality Premiership points table - on Saturday.

Many of the Wales squad have said Diolch (thank you) to someone who played an important part in their early playing days by nominating them to be invited to the Wales v South Africa match. One person, Gowerton Comprehensive geography teacher Mr Dean Mason was nominated by two of his former pupils, Dan Biggar and Sam Davies.

The second WRU disability rugby pilot has been delivered, this time in Caerphilly schools, culminating in a festival at the Caerphilly Centre of Sporting Excellence, Ystrad Mynach tomorrow. Plans are in place to set up a Disability Rugby Club in Newbridge to provide long-term playing opportunities.

WRU TV: Hear from inside the Wales camp as Neil Jenkins discusses this weekend's clash with South Africa and how the squad are looking to put in a strong performance to round of the 2016 Under Armour Series